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REVIEW - The Walking Dead S03E06

After
a few game-changing episodes for Rick’s group of survivors and the
community of Woodbury, its time to take a deep breath and prepare for
a change of pace. This week’s episode takes some time out to allow
the characters to pick up the pieces from the events of the last few
episodes and start coming to terms with where they are and what they
have just experienced. It is an episode with multiple story threads
but it also demonstrates signs of the writers putting some of the
season’s over arcing plot wheels in motion with only two episodes
to go before the mid-season finale.

Following the
surprise phone call Rick received last week, he is left to ponder his
thoughts as he continues to dwell in his self-induced exile as he
struggles to come to terms with Lori’s death. Meanwhile, Daryl
displays leadership qualities as he tries to fill the void left by
Rick, while Glenn and Maggie go in search of supplies. Over in
Woodbury, the attraction between Andrea and The Governor continues to
grow and Merle leads a group in pursuit of Michonne.

The change of
pace at this stage of the season is necessary with what has gone and
with what is undoubtedly to come. It is also understandable in what
has been a thrilling season so far and welcome when considering what
the characters have been put through. However, the quality of the
show as a whole doesn’t suffer and this is far from being merely
filler episode.

Writer Scott
M. Gimple does a fine job of juggling all the different strands and
allowing each the room to breathe. The episode treads lightly across
its various storylines meaning it never gets bogged down in one
particular plot thread and keeps everything ticking along nicely.

The cast is
as good as ever with Andrew Lincoln’s Rick having to confront the
feelings he has been unwilling to face and Michael Rooker’s Merle
getting plenty of opportunity to develop as a more villainous figure.

The dynamic
that two contrasting and parallel settings has offered the show this
season has helped to freshen it up and now characters from both sides
are starting to crossover. It demonstrates events are building to a
head and there is certainly a sense that there is something big
building to take us into the break.